Improvement in earth-closets



G. A.- WAKEFIELD.

Earth-Closet. him 164L348, Y Patentedlune8,l875.

Iii/blesses THE GRAPHIC COJHOTO-LITILSB & 41 PARK PLACE, N.

UNITED srarns PATENT DFFIGE.

CHARLES A. WAKEFIELD, OF PIT'ISFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EARTH-CLOSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,348, dated June 8, 1875; application filed March 17, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WAKE- FIELD, of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Earth-Closets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of commodes or earth-closets which are divided into an upper and lower compartment by means of a horizontal partition, the upper compartment being designed to receive the vessel for holding the deposits, and the lower compartment for holding the deodorizing substance.

My invention consists of a novel construction of the opening in the compartment holdin g the deodoriziug substance, and of the door for closing the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim, whereby the use of hinges is avoided.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a rear view of a commode constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in the line a; w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the line 3 y of Fig. 2.

A represents a box or casing of suitable size to hold a sufficient quantity of dry earth, and a vessel for the reception of the deposits, and of suitable height to form a comfortable seat. It is provided with a lid, B, and may be finished in any suitable manner, so as to form an ornamental piece of furniture. This box or casing is divided by a horizontal partition, 0, into two compartments, D Ethe upper one, D, holding a chamber-pot, F, or other vessel, for the reception of the deposits, the partition 0 serving as a shelf to support said vessel, and the lower one, E, holding the dry earth or other deodorant. Below the lid B, and above the vessel F,is a seat, G, for the person using the commode. The compartment D has an opening on the rear side to afford access thereto, for the purpose of removing and replacing the vessel F. The compartment E has an opening on one of the lateral sides, to afford access thereto for the purposeof supplying deodorant to the vessel after using it, so that the person using the commode can obtain a supply of deodorant before rising from the seat, and place the same in the vessel immediately upon rising, so as to thoroughly deodorize the deposit in the vessel.

The doors for closing the openings through which access is afforded to the compartments, and said openings themselves, are so constructed that said doors may be readily placed and held in position, and as readily removed, without the use of hinges. The door H of the upper compartment is formed with grooves h 011 both its upper edge and lower edge, and with tongues or flanges k projecting beyond the tops of said grooves, so as to render the outer surface of said door wider than the opening, and the inner surface slightly narrower than said opening. On the under side of the seat G is a groove, 9, for the reception of one of the flanges, h, and on the upper side of the partition 0 is a tongue or rib, o, for engagement with one of the grooves h, said groove g and tongue 0 being at the outer edges of the opening in the compartment. The door is placed in position to close the opening by first inserting the upper-flange h in the groove 9, lifting it slightly and pressing it inward, and then allowing it to drop, so thatthe lower groove 71. will engage with the rib or tongue 0, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the door is held by its own weight, withouthinges or other fasteuings, and it may be readily removed by slightly raising it, so as to disengage the groove h from the tongue 0, and then pulling it outward. By providing the grooves h and flanges h on both the upper and lower edges, the door is readily reversible, and will fit in 'its place in the opening when either edge is turned. uppermost.

The door of the lower compartment may be made in two pieces, I J, by sawing the piece I from one of the sides of the case A, and attaching to it the piece J, to form a flange to cover the seam made by the saw, and also to prevent the piece I from falling inward; or it may be made in one piece. In either case the outline of the opening and of the inner portion I correspond with each other, and the portion J covers the seams and prevents displacement. The upper and lower edges of the inner portion I and of the opening are beveled or inclined inward and downward, as shown at i, and the upper portions of the opening and of the part I of the door are made of zigzag or other irregular form, as shown at i, with the lower edge or side of the irregular portion parallel, or nearly so, with the upper andlower edges '5. By this construction the door is readily placed in position by simply inserting the portion I in the opening; and then dropping it, when it is held in place by its own weight, without hinges, buttons,or other fastenings, as the flange J prevents it from falling inward, and the beveled and irregular portions prevent it from falling outward; and it can be readlly removed by slightly raising it and drawing it outward.

I do not here claim the construction of the door to the upper compartment, as such may form the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The door I J having the beveled or inclined upper and lower edges 6 and zigzag or irregular portion z", in combination with the correspondingly-shaped opening in the casing, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

CHAS. A. WAKEFIELD.

Witnesses:

R0131. W. ADAM, DANL. DAY. 

